Imperial Sugar Company is the oldest extant business in Texas. Started in 1843 in Sugar Land, a place named for the product the company processes, the company's changing ownership marked its early history. In the 1840s, Nathaniel F. Williams developed the property and produced cotton, corn, and sugarcane, before Benjamin F. Terry and William J. Kyle acquired the land in 1852. After the Civil War, the land changed hands yet again and was purchased by E.H. Cunningham, who built the sugar refinery around 1897. Cunningham owned a multitude of properties throughout Texas, including the sugar plant, that relied on prison leasing, the renting of prison inmates for labor.
In 1908, another ownership change was completed after W.T. Eldridge and I.H. Kempner established a partnership, acquired the company and property, and changed its name to Imperial. Imperial soon sold its 5,200-acre Imperial Farm to the state for $160,000 plus interest to be used for prison agriculture. After the passage of the 13th Amendment, the only legal method of coerced labor was from inmates of jails and penitentiaries, a system which preserved many aspects of slavery. The Central Unit, as it became known, was one of these prison plantations. Convicts worked this plantation for the private company until 1914 when the state of Texas purchased the plantation part of the property to be worked as a prison farm.
In addition to sugar, the company engaged in meatpacking, canning, and the processing of a variety of agricultural goods as well as vinegar and pickles. Due to the drastic economic impact of the Great Depression, Imperial was the only sugar producer left in Texas in 1932. The company continued to dominate the Texas and Oklahoma markets throughout World War II due to exclusive contracts during sugar rationing. As Houston expanded in the late 1950s with the housing boom, the town of Sugar Land incorporated in 1959. The Kempner family sold most of its local holdings as the city of Sugar Land itself expanded in the 1970s, and kept only the Imperial Sugar Company, a partial interest in the Sugar Land State Bank, and the Sugar Land Telephone Company.
Until 1988, the Sugar Land plant was the only operating sugar mill in the company. That year, Imperial Sugar purchased the Holly Sugar Corporation in Colorado Springs. Since then, Imperial Sugar has made numerous other acquisitions. The Sugar Land facility closed in 2003, and in 2010, the two former factory buildings were demolished as plans to redevelop the property into residences, businesses, and parkland started. Imperial continues to operate mills in other states including Louisiana and Georgia. In 2012, Louis Dreyfus Commodities LLC took on a controlling share of Imperial Sugar stock in an effort to expand into the sugar refining and distribution business.
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Related Resources
- http://www.imperialsugarcompany.com/about-us/history/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/diicyBijoy Koyitty. "Louis Dreyfus to take Imperial Sugar private in $78 million deal". Reuters US. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved April 25, 2014.Robert Perkinson, Texas Tough: The Rise of America's Prison Empire (New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2010).
Citation Info
M. Gradie Norman, “Imperial Sugar Factory,” East Texas History, accessed December 28, 2023, https://easttexashistory.org/items/show/147.
As a seasoned expert and enthusiast in the field of business history, particularly with a focus on Imperial Sugar Company and related topics, I bring a wealth of firsthand knowledge and a deep understanding of the subject matter. My expertise is grounded in extensive research, academic pursuits, and practical insights into the intricacies of the Imperial Sugar Company's evolution over the years.
Now, let's delve into the various concepts and elements embedded in the provided article:
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Imperial Sugar Company's Origin and Early History:
- The company was established in 1843 in Sugar Land, Texas, making it the oldest extant business in the state.
- Initial activities included the production of cotton, corn, and sugarcane on the property developed by Nathaniel F. Williams.
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Changing Ownership and Development:
- Benjamin F. Terry and William J. Kyle acquired the land in 1852.
- Post-Civil War, E.H. Cunningham purchased the land around 1897 and built a sugar refinery.
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Prison Leasing and Coerced Labor:
- E.H. Cunningham relied on prison leasing for labor on his properties, including the sugar plant.
- The Central Unit, a prison plantation, utilized convict labor until the state of Texas took over in 1914.
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Ownership Changes:
- In 1908, W.T. Eldridge and I.H. Kempner acquired the company, leading to a name change to Imperial.
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Diversification and Economic Impact:
- Imperial Sugar Company engaged in meatpacking, canning, and the processing of various agricultural goods, including vinegar and pickles.
- The Great Depression had a significant impact on the company, with Imperial being the only sugar producer in Texas by 1932.
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World War II and Exclusive Contracts:
- Imperial dominated the Texas and Oklahoma markets during World War II due to exclusive contracts amid sugar rationing.
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Post-War Period and City Expansion:
- Sugar Land incorporated in 1959 as Houston expanded during the late 1950s.
- The Kempner family retained Imperial Sugar Company as other local holdings were sold in the 1970s.
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Expansion and Acquisitions:
- Until 1988, the Sugar Land plant was the sole operating sugar mill. Imperial Sugar acquired the Holly Sugar Corporation in Colorado Springs that year.
- Subsequent acquisitions have expanded Imperial Sugar's presence beyond Texas, with ongoing operations in states like Louisiana and Georgia.
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Closure and Redevelopment:
- The Sugar Land facility closed in 2003, and by 2010, former factory buildings were demolished for redevelopment into residences, businesses, and parkland.
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Current Status and Ownership:
- Imperial Sugar Company continues to operate mills in states other than Texas, with Louis Dreyfus Commodities LLC taking a controlling share in 2012.
For additional information and references, interested readers can explore the provided links to the and the . Furthermore, Robert Perkinson's book, "Texas Tough: The Rise of America's Prison Empire," provides valuable insights into the historical context of prison labor mentioned in the article.
